Packing-case.



WILLIS D. BALLOU, OF BELDING, MICHIGAN.

PACKING-CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent. i

Patented Aug. 6, 190'?.

Application filed March 10,1906, Serial No. 305,286.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIS D. BALLOU, a citizen of the'United States, residing at Belding, in the county of Ionia and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Packing-Cases; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in packing cases, and its object is to provide a strong, durable and light case for packing and shipping merchandise; to provide a case suitable for repeated use and return to the shipper when empty, to provide improved means for protecting the contents of the case; and to provide the device with various new and useful features hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention consists essentially of the combination and arrangement of a frame preferably made partially or Wholly of metal strips, a canvas covering, and alining preferably in the form of basket work and made of any' suitable material, preferably of wood, as will more fully appear4 by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l. is a perspective of a device embodying my invention, a part being broken away to show the construction; Fig. 2. a perspective of the frame of the same; and Fig. 3. a sectional detail of the same.

Like numbers refer to. like parts in all of the figures.

The frame consists of ribs, preferably of dat steel bent twice at right angles and arranged transversely and longitudinally across the bottom and extending vertically at the sides, the upper ends thereof being tied and supported in place by a frame arranged horizontal, the entire structure being supported upon longitudinal shoes or strips to protect the same from wear and to slide on the floor as occasion requires.

The construction of this frame is shown in Fig. 2. in which l represents the steel ribs arranged transversely at intervals across the bottom and bent at right angles to extend vertically up the sides of the case. 2 represents similar ribs extending longitudinally in the bottom and vertically at the ends.

3 is the top frame secured to the upper ends of the vertical members l and 2, and 4 are the longitudinal shoes. I prefer to make the top frame 3 and shoes 4 of hard wood but obviously the same may be of metal or the entire frame may be of wood. This framework gives strength and durability to the structure and protects the contents thereof from the pressure of any heavy articles that may come in contact with the case. Within this frame is placed a canvas covering 5 upon which at intervals are tubular portions inclosing the ribs l and 2 of the frame. This canvas protects the contents of the case from any dust or other contamination from outside, and is preferably painted or other- Wise made water-proof as occasion requires.

To further protect the contents, and to prevent indentation or puncture of the canvas by small or angular articles coming in contact therewith, the interior of the case is provided with a lining 7 preferably of hard wood strips woven like basket work, as shown in Fig. l. arranged to form a support for the inner surface of the canvas. Obviously this basket work may be made of fiat strips of metal or wire, if preferred.

The top is closed by any convenient cover Shinged or otherwise secured to the top frame 3. To securely hold the cover in place and protect the corners thereof. corner plates 9 are secured to the frame 3 and extend upward opposite the corners of the cover. The frame 3 is further strengthened by inner corner plates 10.

This structure is very strong, impervious to dust, moisture or other contamination, and is also light and suficiently durable to be used repeatedly for purposes of transportation or storage of goods that may be placed therein.

What I claim is:

1. In a packing case, a frame comprising strips of steel arranged longitudinally and transversely of the bottom and extending vertically at the sides, a frame attached to the upper ends of said strips, a canvas cover having vertical tubular portions inclosing the vertical members of the frame, and a lining of basket-work within the canvas.

2. A packing case, comprising strips arranged longitudinally and transversely of the bottom and extending vertically at the sides and ends, a top frame secured to the upper ends of the same, a canvas cover having tubular portions inclosing the vertical members of the frame, shoes beneath the frame, a basket-work lining within the canvas, a cover detachably secured to the top frame, and corner irons secured to the top frame and extended upward opposite the corners of the cover.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIS D. BALLOU. 

